MINOT – One of the longest running murder sagas in Minot history will take a few months longer. A scheduled March 1 pretrial hearing for Nichole Rice, Minot, charged with the murder of Anita Knutson, has been moved to June 14.
The lifeless body of Knutson was discovered in her northwest Minot apartment by Gordon Knutson, her father, late in the afternoon of June 4, 2007. Anita Knutson was adopted by Gordon and Sharon Knutson, Butte, at five months of age in February of 1999.
An extensive investigation into the Knutson murder failed to lead to an arrest for 15 years. However, following the assistance of investigators from the “Cold Justice” television series working with cold case investigators from the Minot Police Department, Rice was arrested on March 16, 2022. She was charged with murdering Knutson, who was her roommate at the time of the murder.
Rice has been free on bond since March 17, 2022, as the case continues to work its way through the legal system. There have been multiple delays, indicative of the complexity of preparing for trial in the lengthy case.
Judge Richard Hagar had set a March 1 pretrial conference in North-Central District court in Minot. That appearance has been rescheduled for June 14, 2023, at 11 a.m.
